Edwin j



(No Model.)

E. J. FLETCHER.

SHOW CASE.

180.390,581. Patented 0013.2, 1888.

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EDWIN J. FLETCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOW-'CASE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,581, dated October 2, 1888.

Application filed October 20, 1887. Serial No. 252,871. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWIN J. FLETCHER, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention can be used in connection with the improvement set forth in the patent to me dated May 24, 1887, No. 363,621, and it will be so described.

There are 'frequently-recurring cases7 especiali y in the retail jewelry trade, where it is esteemed necessary to remove the trays from the show-case, especially those containing the most valuable articles and keep them in the safe whenever the store is closed at night. It is obviously desirable to effect the transfer by shifting the trays backward and forward without disturbing the contents of each individual tray. The spaces in the safe are often of so limited area that large trays cannot be thus inclosed. I employ uprights,which arelocatedv adjacent to the posts in the back of the showcase, as shown in my former patent referred to. I extend them farther upward and cause their upper ends to take hold of the horizontal piece which extends along the back of the top of the show-case, which I will call the back rail.77 The uprights and back rail thus mutually support cach other. I have devised a system for introducing intermediate brackets or arms by suspending them tothe upper back rail. One or more such brackets introduced in the space between the uprights allow trays to be employed which may be as narrow as desired. These will usually be high, holding their trays near the top of the showcase. They will be so represented. It is important that the lower surfaces of the tier of trays and their supports be clear from incumbrance. I use the term runners 7 to designate the narrow horizontalledges or shelves on the brackets which support the edges of the trays. I have devised a form of crosssection of the bracket,in which a vertical web of metal above the runners gives strength to the bracket, so that there is no necessity for any web or equivalent support below the runner. In what I esteem the most complete form of theinvention the webs above the runners are narrow", and are received in corresponding narrow grooves,sawed or otherwise produced in the parting strips or guides, Wooden strips, which, as in my previous patent, lie over each bracket and give a iinish, and serve as lateral guides for the trays on each side. I form stops to arrest the forward movement of the trays inintroducing them by providing a T-piece or cross-piece on the front end of each bracket. These T-pieces may be lengthened, so as to form a continuous bar eX- tending across and uniting the front ends of the brackets, if desired. Said T-pieces, by being fixed to something at or near the ends of the case, may support the arms against lateral movement, and also may be of service to aid in supporting the weight of the trays.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a front view, and Fig. 2 a crosssection on the line w w in Fig. l. The remaining gures represent portions on alarger scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line x .fr in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a corresponding plan view representing a tray in the act of being introduced or removed from the back ofthe showcase. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line y/ y in Fig. 3. Fig. Gis a vertical section on the line e in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan View corresponding to Fig. I, showing modifications. Figs. 8, 9, 10, and l1 are vertical sections corresponding to Figli, showing modifications. Fig. l2 is a vertical section near the top, corresponding to Fig. 3,v but modified.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in all the figures where they occur. v

A is the showcase, certain portions being designated, when necessary, by additional marks, as A. The doors at the back are marked B, and are provided with hinges b at the bottom and proper fastening means at the top. (Not represented.) The showcase, as shown, is intended for three such doors, side by side.

A2 is the back rail, the part which extends horizontally along the top of the back.

A3 is the glass.

C is a strip of steel let into the front of th back rail and secured thereto by screws c.

D D are uprights, of malleable cast-iron mounted higher.

or other suitable material, extending the whole depth of the show-case. Their bases rest on and are supported by the floor of the show'- case. Their upper ends are secured to the steel, C, and thus to the back rail, A. The uprights aid to support the steel and the back rail, and are in turn supported thereby. Each upright D may carry any number of horizontal arms or brackets of any length.

M are short uprights or hangers suspended from the back rail, A2, and from the steel C. There may be any number of these, thus dividing the spaces between the uprights into any number of equal or unequal parts. Each carries a horizontal arm or bracket, which receives the edges of small trays G, which,when the doors are open, may be introduced and removed in the same manner as the trays in my patent of May, 1887, above referred to,except that the trays are smaller and that the arms and consequently the trays are preferably I obtain a strong and reliable connection of these short uprights or hangers by screws H H,inserted through their upper ends, which are widened for the purpose, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. The screws H are tapped into the steel C and take hold of it alone. The screws I extend loosely through C and take hold directly of the material of the back rail, A2. A horizontal arm, M', extends rearward from M, and is let into the bottom of the back rail, as shown in Fig. 3. This arm is secured to the back rail by screws m. The union obtained by all these means between each hanger M and the back rail is stiff and reliable. It will support with out materially springing much more than the trifling weight of the trays which they have to carry. The arms are formed each with a runner, N, which is plane on its under face, and has a rib or web, N, on its upper face. The latter gives the necessary vertical strength.

O is a piece of wood,of general rectangular section, with narrow flanges to form runners for the trays, and is recessed to receive the web N. This wood O may be covered with plush, or otherwise nished, if desired. It serves as a parting strip and guide for the trays G, which latter, it will be understood, are drawn out and thrust in from the back or :front in the same manner as in my patent of May, 1887, referred to.

I) are T-pieces, of metal, wood, or other material, applied across the front ends of the several brackets or arms and secured thereto by screws p. These serve as stops, which are struck by the trays when the latter are thrust inward to the proper extent. These T-picces may be extended across from one bracket to another the whole length of the show-case, if desired.

The invention gives a clear space under each tier of trays without the disiigurement which would be produced by webs extending downward from the runners. The main uprights may support large trays on long arms in the same manner as in my previous patent referred strength of the support for the back rail, and

also stiffens the upright and affords a more reliable support than heretofore for the trays mounted on the lower arms.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I can dispense with the wood, O, and make the web N of such width and depth as to perform the duty. I can in such case make both parts in one piece or Li n separate pieces, riveted or fastened together.

In practice I usually form the wood, O, so as to extend out over the runner N on each side and form the actual surfaces on which the trays run, the wood being simply supported by the metal, N, below. I have so represented it; but this is not essential, as the trays may rest directly on N, if preferred.

The doors may open otherwise than as A striking such offset, arrests the forward movement at the proper point independent or additional to the stop formed by the crosspieee P.

Fig. 8 shows the arm in a solid piece with no wood. Fig. 9 shows it with no wood, but in two pieces screwed together.

Fig. 10 shows the arm with the metal portion in two pieces screwed together, with the partingstrip of wood, but with no wood over the shelves to support the trays. Fig. 11 shows it of similar construction, with the metal portion in one piece. y

It is not necessary that the middle hangers, or any hangers, or even the uprights, should touch the back rail at all, as they can all hang from a bar put across the case in front of the rail. It need not touch the rail. Or the uprights may or may not fasten or touch the rail in any way. This bar may be held up at or near the ends of the case, and all the hangers may be suspended from it. It may be strengthened by uprights; but it need not touch the back rail. Fig. 12 shows such a modication.

Iarts of the invention can be used without the whole. I can widen the tops of the uprights M, even to the extent of forming a contin nous flat bar extending horizontally, and by securing such directly to the back rail, A2, can obtain the firm connection desired between M and A2 without the employment of the steel, C. I can dispense with the ledges or runners N and employ simply pins or other means attached to the arm or projection therefrom to support the trays, on which the trays ymay be dropped instead of sliding. I can dispense with the lower arms and trays, using only the upper tier shown.

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support trays G, the T- piece P, extending across the front ends of such arms, adapted to serve as stops for the trays and also contribute to sustain the brackets by engaging with any suitable support at or near the ends of the show-case, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, this 17 th day of October, 1887, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. n

EDWIN J'. FLETCHER.

"Witnesses M. F. BoYLE, H. A. JoHNs'roNE. 

